Teleconferencing system for allowing the breaking out of groups of callers into sub-teleconferences and the reporting of callers speaking in the sub-teleconferences

ABSTRACT

A facilitator-led teleconferencing system that establishes teleconferences for a plurality of callers and at least one facilitator. The teleconferencing system operates under the control of application software and through a computer system that establishes a user interface. The teleconferencing system enables the facilitator to dynamically divide a large teleconference into a plurality of sub-conferences, preferably in a way that enables callers in one sub-conference to interact with others in that sub-conference. The teleconferencing system further enables the facilitator to monitor in real-time who is in each sub-conference and to determine in real-time who was currently speaking in each sub-conference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of the following U.S. ProvisionalApplications: “Teleconferencing system for allowing one touch transferfrom a facilitator led discussion, Provisional Application No.61/343,113, filed Apr. 22, 2010; “Teleconferencing system for allowinginterchange between facilitator led discussions and reportinginformation about selected callers, Provisional Application No.61/343,112, filed Apr. 22, 2010; “Teleconferencing system for allowingone touch queuing by callers in a facilitator led discussion,”Provisional Application No. 61/343,108, filed Apr. 22, 2010;“Teleconferencing system for allowing large numbers of callers bytransferring callers to connected servers in a call bridge,” ProvisionalApplication No. 61/343,107, filed Apr. 22, 2010; “Teleconferencingsystem for allowing the breaking out of groups of callers intosub-teleconferences and the reporting of callers speaking in thesub-teleconferences,” Provisional Application No. 61/343,106, filed Apr.22, 2010; “Teleconferencing system for allowing interchange infacilitator led discussions and sending information to callers electingto receive the information,” Provisional Application No. 61/343,105,filed Apr. 22, 2010; “Teleconferencing system for allowing interchangebetween facilitator led discussions in a main conference and breakingout groups into sub-conferences,” Provisional Application No.61/343,104, filed Apr. 22, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards afacilitator-led teleconferencing system that enables the facilitator todynamically divide a large teleconference into a plurality ofsub-conferences, to determine which caller is in which sub-conference,and to determine who is currently speaking within each sub-conference inreal-time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A very common way to hold a meeting and to perform group activities withwidely dispersed people is teleconferencing. Teleconferencing is highlyuseful because it allows callers from around the world to participate inthe same meeting at low cost.

Teleconferencing has been so successful that user demands have resultedin the development of modern teleconferencing “bridge systems” thatallow callers to either dial into or log onto a computerized system thatestablishes a virtual teleconference. In such systems callers usuallyhave to identify themselves, their access rights are checked, afacilitator is established, and operating rules are set and enforced bythe bridge system.

Teleconferencing and the newer bridge systems generally support moderntrends in education, business, and other group activities which focus onincreasing the number and quality of interactions. For example, moderntrends in education lean away from strictly lecture driven modalitiesand focus more on greater individual participation. In practiceteleconferencing participants are often looked at as resources of anorganization and as such the desire to incorporate those participants indecision-making at all levels has increased. This becomes a majorproblem as the geographic diversity of organizations and theirparticipant's increases and as the need for better communications, suchas teleconferencing, becomes even more critical. In fact, modern trendshave placed such additional burdens on teleconferencing systems thateven the newer “bridge teleconferencing systems” are often deemedinsufficient.

The result of the foregoing is that more and more programs, be theysales, educational, marketing, or simply group meetings are beingdelivered and conducted via teleconferencing systems. Teleconferencingreduces costs, makes more efficient use of time, and makes a givenmeeting available to a greater segment of the population, including homeor bed-ridden individuals.

While generally successful, teleconferences have numerous, well-knownlimitations. Those limitations are a result of, or are acerbated by, thefact that the normal visual cues available with in-person meetings areoften not available in a teleconference. Those limitations lead togreater problems when larger numbers of people from remote locations arebrought together in a single teleconference. A large teleconference canbe difficult to organize and run even when using the newer bridgesystems. For example, two callers who talk or otherwise act at the sametime cause communication conflicts. The larger the group the moredifficult it becomes to avoid such conflicts. Smaller teleconferencesare simply easier to manage.

Next, it can be extraordinarily difficult to associate the response of aparticular caller with that caller. For example, in a teleconferencewith 30 callers in 5 different locations it is very difficult toassociate a response from say Joe in Seattle (for example) with thatparticular Joe and not a different Joe in London. Again, smallerteleconferences are easier to manage.

Yet another issue is enabling interactions among participants in a largeconference. If participant A says something, it is possible thatnumerous other participants will want to interact with participant A. Ifthey do so, confusion is likely. Again, smaller teleconferences areeasier to manage.

Still another problem with large conferences is maintaining the interestof participants who may have different interests. For example, propertyinvestors in Seattle may have no interest in the current housing marketin Little Rock, while those in Arkansas may have a great deal ofinterest in that subject. Further discussions on the current housingmarket in Little Rock may leave some callers bored and unhappy whilechanging the subject may greatly displease other participants.

Complicating the problems with prior art teleconferencing is that theconferences were static, once a conferencing group is established thefacilitator can not rearrange the conference to suit the dynamicinterests or needs of diverse groups within that conference.

Additionally, in prior art teleconferencing it was not possible for afacilitator to actually know who was speaking at any given time unlessthe facilitator could recognize the voice of the speaker. This made itdifficult for the facilitator 30 to respond to the speaker based onknowledge of who the speaker was.

Therefore, a facilitator led teleconferencing system that enables thefacilitator to dynamically divide a large conference into a plurality ofsub-conferences would be beneficial. Such a teleconferencing system thatenables callers in a sub-conference to interact with others in thatsub-conference but not with those in other sub-conferences also would beuseful. Such a system that enables the facilitator to monitor inreal-time who is in each sub-conference would be useful. Preferably, theteleconferencing system would enable the facilitator to dynamicallydivide a large conference into a plurality of sub-conferences, wouldenable the facilitator to monitor in real-time who is in eachsub-conference, and would enable the facilitator to determine inreal-time who was currently speaking in each sub-conference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a teleconferencingsystem that enables callers in a main teleconference to be broken outinto sub-conferences and in which the facilitator is informed about whois speaking in each sub-conference.

It is another object of the present invention to provide ateleconferencing system that reports which callers are speaking insub-conferences by visually indicating them in real time on a userinterface.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide ateleconferencing system which shows in real time each caller in eachsub-conference and that reports in real time the callers that arespeaking in each sub-conference.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a facilitator ledteleconferencing system that enables callers in a main teleconference tobe broken out into sub-conferences and such that the facilitator isinformed about who is in each sub-conference and who is currentlyspeaking in each sub-conference.

The principles of the present invention provide for a facilitator-ledteleconferencing system that establishes teleconferences for a pluralityof callers and at least one facilitator. The teleconferencing system isoperated by the facilitator under the control of application softwareand through a computer system that establishes a user interface, whichis preferably a graphical user interface. The teleconferencing systemenables the facilitator to dynamically divide a large teleconferenceinto a plurality of sub-conferences, preferably in a way that enablescallers in one sub-conference to interact with others in thatsub-conference. The teleconferencing system enables the facilitator tomonitor in real-time who is in each sub-conference and to determine inreal-time who was currently speaking in each sub-conference.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being in accord withthe principles of the present invention, therefore the present inventionshall be construed as being limited only by the broad scope of theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the various stations thatcomprise an interactive teleconferencing system that is in accord withthe principles of the present invention, and in which all callers are indirect communication only with the facilitator;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the various stations thatcomprise an interactive teleconferencing system that is in accord withthe principles of the present invention, and in which callers have beenassigned to sub-conferences;

FIG. 3 is an example of a graphical user interface used in theteleconferencing system represented in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the interactivetelecommunication system illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which oneembodiment is shown. However, it should be understood that thisinvention may take many different forms and thus should not be construedas being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. In the figures,like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a teleconferencing system 20 having aconferencing switch 22 which is central to the operation of theteleconferencing system 20. The teleconferencing system 20 enables afacilitator 30 to dynamically cause the switch 22 to selectivelyinterconnect a plurality of callers, shown as callers 40A, 40B, 40C, and40N, among themselves and the facilitator 30 into a plurality ofsub-conferences.

The callers 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N and the facilitator 30 connect to theteleconferencing system 20 using any of an assortment of communicationmediums such as telephone lines 41 (as with callers 40A-40C), internetconnections 42 (as with caller 40N), and data lines 43 (as with thefacilitator 30). Of course the teleconferencing system 20 is alsocontemplated as working with other communication mediums, such asmicrowave or radio communications. The switch 22 also accepts data fromthe callers through audio, video, touch-tones, speech recognition, orother means.

Hardware and firmware suitable for implementing the switch 22 are wellknown in the art. The switch 22 can be a hardware device or it can be acombination of hardware and software. For example, when used under thecontrol of specific application software (discussed subsequently) anopen source software solution such as FreeSwitch, distributed atfreeswitch.org, can control hardware that is currently available withinexisting telecommunication networks to provide the requiredfunctionality described herein.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that the switch 22operates under the control of application software 24, which iscomprised of code written to enable both basic teleconferencingfunctions and to provide the specific functionality to implement theprinciples of the present invention. The application software 24 mightrun as part of the switch 22, or it might be applied to the switch 22 byway of a data control port 49 and/or a secondary port 47 from a computersystem 26. Preferably the application software 24 runs under the controlof the computer system 26. The computer system 26 beneficially providesa graphical user interface (GUI) that enables, via a manual interface45, control of the computer system 26, the application software 24, andthe switch 22 as required to implement the various features of theteleconferencing system 20.

Beneficially the computer system 26 implements a web-based, GUI whichallows easy control of the functions of the teleconferencing system 20using a pointing device such as a mouse. It should be noted that theteleconferencing system 20 generally operates at the behest of afacilitator 30, a person or group that leads the teleconference andcontrols, by way of the manual interface 45, the computer system 26, theapplication software 24, and the switch 22. The teleconferencing system20 may place the facilitator 30 at a different hierarchical level thanthe individual callers, or it may place the facilitator 30 at the same(common) level as the individual callers. In addition, thetelecommunication system 20 may be scaled and configured to have morethan one person speaking and interacting with the individual callers asa facilitator 30.

One purpose of the teleconferencing system 20 is to allow interactiveteleconferencing between callers, including caller 40A, caller 40B,caller 40C, caller 40N and/or the facilitator 30. FIG. 1 illustrates theteleconferencing system 20 when it is configured such that each callercan only communicate with the facilitator 30. To implement that featurethe switch 22 sets up a single level router 108 that allows onlyhierarchical-communications. That is, callers can only interact withothers on different levels, with the facilitator 30 being considered ata higher level. Oval-shaped routers, such as the router 108 are usedherein to designate hierarchical level routers. It is also possible thateach caller can communicate with all of the other callers and with thefacilitator 30. To implement that the switch 22 sets up a common routerthat allows all of the participants connected to that router to interactwith all of the other participants connected to that router.Rectangular-shaped routers, such as the routers 102 and 104 shown inFIG. 2 designate common-level routers.

Another purpose of the teleconferencing system 20 is to allow thefacilitator 30 to divide the main teleconference into a plurality ofsub-conferences that he can monitor. FIG. 2 illustrates theteleconferencing system 20 after the facilitator 30 has caused theswitch 22 to form two sub-conferences: one comprised of callers 40A and40B, and the other comprised of callers 40C and 40N. To do so thefacilitator causes the switch 22 to form a common level router 102 andanother common level router 104. As common-level routers allow all ofthe participants connected to that router to interact with all of theother participants connected to that router, callers 40A and 40B cancommunicate with each other, callers 40C and 40N can communicate witheach other, but callers 40A and 40B cannot communicated with callers 40Cand 40N (and visa-versa).

Still referring to FIG. 2, to allow the facilitator 30 to listen in onthe sub-conferences the switch 22 has implemented a hierarchical router106 that connects the facilitator 30 to each of the common-level routers102 and 104. When the teleconferencing system 20 is so configured thecallers in a sub-conference can communicate among themselves while thefacilitator 30 and listen in on each of the sub-conferences.

As noted the specific configuration of the teleconferencing system 20and the switch 22 are controlled by the facilitator 30. To assist thefacilitator 30 in forming the sub-conferences the facilitator 30 isprovided with access to a database 21 that can be stored in data storage23, which will typically be part of the computer system 26. Informationin the database can be accessed by the facilitator 30 as required.

Another purpose of the teleconferencing system 20 is to enable thefacilitator 30 to have real time information regarding who is in eachsub-conference. To accomplish this the switch 22 under the direction ofthe application software 24 monitors the callers 40A, 40B, 40C, 40N toa) determine that they are still connected to the teleconferencingsystem 20 and b) to determine which sub-conference they are arrangedinto. The application software 24 provides the computer system 26 withthat information, and the computer system 26 maintains the graphicaluser interface to keep the facilitator 30 informed in real time who iscurrently arranged into which sub-conference.

Yet another purpose of the teleconferencing system 20 is to enable thefacilitator 30 to have real time information regarding who is speakingin each sub-conference. To accomplish this the switch 22 under thedirection of the application software 24 monitors the callers 40A, 40B,40C, 40N to a) determine who is currently speaking. The applicationsoftware 24 provides the computer system 26 with that information, andthe computer system 26 maintains the graphical user interface to keepthe facilitator 30 informed in real time about who is currently speakingin each sub-conference.

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation 96 of the teleconferencing system 20.The operation 96 starts at step 98 with the facilitator 30 and thecallers (40A, 40B, 40C, 40N) connecting to the teleconferencing system20, step 100. The callers then send identifying information to theteleconferencing system 20, step 102 and the teleconferencing system 20logs the callers into the system, step 103. User accounts may have beenestablished prior to step 100 or a user account may be set up at step102.

A primary purpose of logging in callers is to establish the identity ofthe callers that are connected to the switch 22. This enables a databaserecord to be accessed for each caller as required by the facilitator 30so that he can make informed decisions when he subsequently formssub-conferences and when he monitors who is speaking in eachsub-conference.

After step 103 the facilitator 30 begins a teleconference, step 104.During this time the facilitator 30 decides whether or not to form asub-conference, step 105. If a sub-conference is not to be formed theteleconferencing system 20 returns to step 104. However, if asub-conference is to be formed the facilitator 30 uses theteleconferencing system 20 to group the callers into sub-conferences,step 106.

A useful variation of the foregoing is to simply randomly assign callersinto sub-conferences after log in. This has the advantage of formingrelatively uniformly sized sub-teleconferences. However, the facilitator30 does have access to information provided by the callers and stored inthe database 21. The facilitator 30 can operate the teleconferencingsystem 20 to have that information made available on the Graphical UserInterface. That information can be used by the facilitator 30 to makemore focused sub-conferences. Typically, each caller will have providedcontact information such as name, phone number, mailing address, zipcode, email address and other such information. Other types ofinformation that may be useful to the facilitator when forming thesub-conferences are the caller's area of interest, title or hierarchywithin an organization.

In any event the facilitator causes the switch to form the callers intosub-conferences. At this time the teleconferencing system 22 continuesto inform the facilitator who is in each sub-conference by updating thelist of sub-conferencing participants, step 107. In addition, theteleconferencing system 22 informs the facilitator 30 who is currentlyspeaking in each sub-conference, step 108. The sub-conference is thenconducted, step 109. A decision is then made as to whether or not thesub-conference will continue, step 110.

If the sub-conference is to continue the operation 96 of theteleconferencing system 20 returns to step 107 for updating in real-timewho is in each sub-conference and to step 108 who is speaking in eachsub-conference, step 108. However, if the sub-conference is not tocontinue a decision is made as to whether or not to return the callersto the main teleconference, step 111. If the callers are to be returnedto the main teleconference the teleconferencing system re-configures thecallers into the main teleconference by returning to step 104. If thecallers are not to be returned to the main teleconference the operation96 stops, step 112.

Examples may be useful in explaining the principles of the presentinvention. Refer now to FIG. 3 for a depiction of a graphical userinterface suitable for use with the present invention. Assume that thefacilitator 30 has established a teleconference relating to the value ofproperties in American cities. The facilitator 30 might then present ageneralized program useful to all of the callers, who will be assumed tobe potential real estate investors across America. After the generalizedprogram is complete the facilitator 30 might wish to group callers intosub-conferences based on ZIP codes. In particular, the facilitator 30might group callers 302, specifically callers Shawn Soileau and ErikaLaBarbena shown in italics, into one sub-conference by clicking on aBREAKOUT 304 label. Then, the teleconferencing system will continue toinform the facilitator 30 about who is currently speaking in thatsub-conference by displaying an illuminated microphone 306.

Alternatively, or in addition to, the facilitator 30 could formsub-conferences based on incomes or investment portfolios. Then thefacilitator 30 could present information targeted to eachsub-conference. It might be beneficial for the facilitator 30 tocontinue to monitor the sub-conferences by configuring theteleconferencing system as illustrated in FIG. 3.

As another example, assume the facilitator 30 is an administrativeassistant to a regional sales manager who has been tasked withestablishing a teleconference with a plurality of sales people locatedthroughout the country. The facilitator 30 might present an introductoryprogram useful for all of the participants and then divided theteleconference into sub-conferences based on sales responsibilities. Asthe facilitator 30 is not involved with any of those sub-conferences thefacilitator 30 would configure the teleconferencing system 20 as in FIG.4 wherein the facilitator 30 cannot communicate with a sub-conferencebut the members of a sub-conference can communicate among themselves.

In conclusion, herein is presented a teleconferencing system whichallows a plurality of callers to respond to questions in a large groupconference, without disruption of the teleconference. The system alsogives the facilitator the ability to selectively ask questions of thecallers during the teleconference and automatically receive answersassociated with a caller. The callers selecting an answer to a questionchosen by the facilitator may be identified by the system and may havetheir contact information displayed or otherwise reported. The inventionis illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout thewritten description. It should be understood that numerous variationsare possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variationsare contemplated as being a part of the present invention.

Therefore, it is to be understood that while the figures and the abovedescription illustrate the present invention, they are exemplary only.They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variationsare possible in light of the above teaching. Others who are skilled inthe applicable arts will recognize numerous modifications andadaptations of the illustrated embodiments that remain within theprinciples of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention isto be limited only by the appended claims.

1. A teleconferencing system, comprising; a computer system; a switchfor interconnecting a plurality of callers and a facilitator togetherover at least one communication medium; and application softwarecontrolled by said computer system, said application software forcontrolling said switch and for providing a user interface to saidfacilitator; wherein said application software can cause said switch tointerconnect said plurality of callers into one teleconference; whereinsaid application software enables said facilitator to reconfigure thecallers into a plurality of sub-conferences; and wherein saidapplication software can cause said computer system to inform thefacilitator of who is currently speaking in each sub-conference.
 2. Ateleconferencing system according to claim 1, wherein said applicationsoftware causes said switch to establish a common level router so thatcallers in a first sub-conference of said plurality of sub-conferencescan directly interact with each other.
 3. A teleconferencing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein callers in said teleconference cannotdirectly interact with each other.
 4. A teleconferencing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said application software causes saidswitch to establish at least two common level routers so that callers ina first sub-conference of said plurality of sub-conferences cannotdirectly interact with callers in a second sub-conference of saidplurality of sub-conferences.
 5. A teleconferencing system according toclaim 1, wherein said computer system enables said facilitator toretrieving information from a database before reconfiguring said callersinto said plurality of sub-conferences.
 6. A teleconferencing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said communication medium is a telephoneconnection.
 7. A teleconferencing system according to claim 1, whereinsaid communication medium is an internet connection.
 8. Ateleconferencing system according to claim 1, wherein saidteleconference uses data signals.
 9. A teleconferencing system accordingto claim 1, wherein said computer system includes a manual interface.10. A method of operating a teleconferencing system comprising the stepsof; logging a plurality of a callers and a facilitator into ateleconference system; conducting a facilitator-led teleconference withsaid plurality of callers; reconfiguring said plurality of callers intoa plurality of sub-conferences as determined by said facilitator;conducting at least one sub-conference; and. informing said facilitatorwho is currently speaking in said at least one sub-conference.
 11. Amethod of operating a teleconferencing system according to claim 10,further including the step of obtaining caller information from adatabase to assist said reconfiguring.
 12. A method of operating ateleconferencing system according to claim 10, wherein the step ofreconfiguring is performed by forming said plurality of callers intosaid sub-conference such that callers in said sub-conference cancommunicate with each other.
 13. A method of operating ateleconferencing system according to claim 12, wherein the step ofreconfiguring is performed by forming said plurality of callers intosaid sub-conference such that callers in said sub-conference cannotcommunicate with callers not in said at least one sub-conference.